St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-04
NEATLY SAID BY MAST.
Why the Great Cartoonist Forsook the
Party of bis First
Love.
Republicans Ran to Blaineism and He
Turned His Face to Cleve-
land.
A Characteristic Interview, in Which
Mast Makes Plain State
ments.

81 think it was quite curious cOinci-
dence that the same day an interview
with me was published in the principal
Republican paper in the city, the lead
ing Democratic sheet, the st. Paul
GLOBE. should contain an article on
almost the identical subject-that is, the
politics of the future. | think
this was quite curious" These
were almost the first words spoken by
Thomas Mast, the famous caricaturiSt,
in an interview had with him yesterday
by a GLOBE man in the West hotel.
When Mr.. Mast was asked if he had been
correctly reported in the aforesaid inter
view. he said: ''Well, yes, to certain
extent, still there are lots of silly mis-
takes. | am called, for instance. free
trader. when | am really 10 such thing,
simply tariff refOrmer. Again, l am
made to say the rich Catholic classes
when, in fact, L said the
Irish Catholic classes Your ar
ticle spoke of the tariff and
of Blaine's trip across the continent in
a mannOr i'll which | coincide most cor
daily. Now it is perfectly true that |
have always liked the Republican
party that | have worked so long with
until ii got seized with 'BlainiaciSm'
and Immediately seemed to lose all
ideas of vital public questions, and
simply fell back to shouting Blame,
Blaine, Blaine all the time-and cannot
or will not take hold of the live issues of
the day-the reforms absolutely neceS-
Sary to the welfare of the country. Now
if we cannot accomplish these very
necessary reforms i'll the Republican
party, and the GLOBE editorial evil
IDENTITY thinks we cannot. and
must look to the Democratic
party for those very same reforms, tariff
reforms. civil service reforms and all
other reforms pertaining to politics, |
for one will help with all my power that
party which will accomplish these
splendid. these beneficial ends for the
general welfare of the country"
1T is to be presumed, then, Mr..
Mast, you viii give President Cleveland
your support next yeaT?'
IF he keeps on as he has commenced.
guiding the Democratic party in a
manner vital to the general good
of the country, we. the sO-called
mugwumpS, being responsible for
his election, cannot do anything
else but support him. Should,
however, the Democratic party not adj
VOcate these reforms, and Mr.. Cleye-
land weaken on civil service questions,
there is little doubt in my mind that we,
not being slaves to any party, would do
again Just as our conscience Dictates"
''In case the Harpers differ with
You in the next campaign for instance,
on tariff reform, what step would you
take to keep yourself before the pub
lic?"
Well would very much like to have
a paper of my own, but l am not rolling
i'm a-nalfb u alont -
why, is it not true. then, you get
salary of $4,000 a year from Harpers?'
That said Mr.. Mast, in most en-
phatic manner" is the sheerest bOSh
that was ever written. 1t is almost
laughable. Only it is 50 misleading. In
the case of a difference with the
HarDerS | would have to do as have
done befOre-StOp work and respect
their opinion. | have proposed to the
HarperS to run a newspaper to be con-
trolled by myself. but they never would
believe in such a scheme. There is one
thing left to me. and | think it would
be good idea. Years ago | painted a
large picture when Grant was renOmi-
mated, covering the whole back part of
the stage; one pedestal marked with no
ton had not yet been held. The other
pedestal was marked Republican nomi-
nee, Grant being placed on it, and Co
lumbia in the center, saying: Match
him. This created an intense SenSa-
ton when it was unrOlled to view.
Therefore, | am thinking it would
be good idea to advocate
my views on the platform, with the
little power of speech | possess. OF
course you know, | may say it is con-
coded. my cartoons and caricatureS have
had some little influence in mOlding
public thought"
''The Republicans claim your dislike
to Mr.. Blaine is a personal matter. Is
this really the fact?"
There is no truth in it
been uniformly and intensely polite to
me. while his utteranceS have always
savOred largely of the flannel mouth
even before he kissed the barney stone
in Ireland. He wrote me most ride
UlOUs letter some twelve years ago,
when drew the first caricature of him.
asking me if lie had personally
offended me in any way. This
is a fair sample OF his general
Jriah lleep manner. ! have had to
give up many dear personal friend on
differing with them on national affairs,
and | have little doubt will lose many
more before kicking the bucket. be-
cause | never will allOwperSOnal friend
ship to control. in any shape, what L
consider is good for my country"
On the two great questions of
tariff reform and the labor party Mr..
Mast made the following pertinent re-
marks: Even the time may now soon
come when we can argue before the peO-
pie the question of protection to monOp-
OlieS. and tariff reform for the cOnSum-
ers and the people at large OF labor
he had this to say: sit should
get its rights. but not by violating the
law. Ours is Il government of law: any
labor organization that does not allow
that individual liberty which our con-
stitutiOn guarantees is rebel to the
government: and the men who do these
things would. if successful. create the
worst slavery that ever eNiSted.n